What not to eat or drink while pregnant?

Eating well-balanced meals is essential during pregnancy. You need to make sure that your baby is getting all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals required for proper development. Although most foods are safe, there are some foods that you should not eat or drink while pregnant. To know more about them, keep reading:

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Seafood That is High in Mercury

There are four fish, in particular, that are high in Mercury: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. The FDA and EPA advise that pregnant women should not eat those fish as the presence of high levels of Mercury can damage the baby’s developing brain and nervous system.

Unpasteurized Dairy Foods

Unpasteurized milk may contain listeria, a bacterial infection that can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm labor, and illness or death in newborns. Make sure that any milk you drink is pasteurized.

Just like raw milk, unpasteurized soft cheese carries the risk of Listeria Contamination.

Undercooked Foods

Raw or undercooked foods increase the risk of infection with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella. That’s why the CDC and USDA recommend avoiding the following foods when they are raw or undercooked:

• Meats and poultry
• Fish, such as sushi, sashimi, ceviches, and carpaccio
• Shellfish, such as clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops

Energy Drinks and Caffeine

Energy drinks and caffeine can increase blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms. In order to avoid these, use natural energy drinks like guarana, ginseng, yerba mate, and green tea extract, all of which can be good alternatives.

Unwashed Vegetables

Vegetables should be a necessary part of your diet during pregnancy. However, make sure they are washed properly to avoid exposure to toxoplasmosis from the soil.

Foods High in Sodium

Pregnant women sometimes crave salty foods, which is not a good idea. During pregnancy, the body becomes prone to swelling and water retention. Consuming too much sodium will only make the situation worse.